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nervous about boarding my dog

We are planning a family vacation in Feb. I am really nervous about putting Max into a boarding facility. I hear horror stories of bad experiences. I want to start planning now. I could really use some help as to what to look for. Obviously I want it clean and heated. He is inside and I don't want my baby having to sleep outside on cold cement when he is used to being with us in the bedroom. I worry, b/c as a puppy he suffered separation anxiety and would get diarrhea when we would leave him. I am really stressing about the vacation. He is a lab/rott mix and will be around 16 months old at that time. Right now he is up to date with all his vaccines. I am going to ask at the vet if they have someone they reccommend and do other checking. What am I missing, credentials or anything else I should be checking on....I want to make sure my baby is having fun while the rest of the family is having fun...Thanks for anything you can offer...

Maxpup, a lot of vets board dogs up here, not sure if it's the same in the U.S. I would look at the ads for them, and go and check them out. I would also ask for references, and of course you can tell a lot with your own eyes. Your instincts will kick in, and you will know a good facility when you see it. I would just look for cleanliness, exercise program, and feeding schedule, as well as premises, and sincerity in the owner. Your dog will be fine, don't worry.

is there any family or friend that could stay at your house? I have a wonderful pre-vet friend that stays at my house when I go places (which is rare anyway). I save money, she is great with the dogs and gets out of her appartment that she shares with other people. It also makes me more comfortable. I know not all people can do this though but it's a suggestion

Your best bet is talking to friends and relatives who board their dogs. you will get some good recommendations that way and you can skip some of the leg work. Go talk to them without your dog. Have a list of questions ready. If you are satisfied with their answers, take your dog back and see how the kennel owners interact with your dog. It is a sure fire way to know if they are good with animals and do it for the love of dogs, not the love of money. I too, was very worried when I first took Buster to a kennel, but I have complete confidence in the place I go and never worry about him.

Not sure where you are located but camp bow wow has many locations across the US. Its the ONLY facility I trust with my dogs. They get to play for 12 hours a day with other dogs and go in their 'cabins' at night. You can watch on webcam too which is great. www.campbowwowusa.com

the first time I had to board my dogs, I visited the boarding facilities listed in the yellow pages first. I happen to drive by one that was not listed in the yellow pages (they had just opened right after the yellow pages had come out). I really like the owner and the people, it was the only one that gave me good vibes. It has been going on 6 years since I started taking them there and have never had any regrets/worries. Visit the kennels, talk to the people who work there and who take their dogs there, and use your gut instincts.

I live in the Canton, Ohio area...There are a ton of them listed in the yellow pages. It all seems so overwelming. I wish I had a family friend or someone to stay at my house. Unfortunately I don't. None one in my family is animal lovers, so staying in my house with my 2 cats and beast Max would be out of the question. My father-in-law will come by to feed the cats and take care of them, but I will not leave Max alone with only twice a day visits. I have asked around at work and neighbors and no one has boarded their animals. I guess I knew this was going to be a major dealing, so I am starting to look now. Is there places that have heated kennels with the luxeries of home? Does anyone have a place to recommend in the Canton Ohio area? Thanks..

Maxpup, it seems to me that any dog that is used to sleeping on their owners bed at night is going to find going to any kennels a distressing experience. Although you say none of your family members are animals lovers have you actually approached them? This is one issue that stopped me getting a dog for so many years, luckily now I can leave him with my ex when I go away, boarding him for me would not be an option.

I'm managing a kennel currently. Pretty much every dog starts to stress some. Especially the ones whose owners go away for 2-5 weeks. They spend their free time looking for any loving they can possibly get honestly. We take good care for the dogs. But I don't think my dogs would do well in any environment with minimal human contact.

I agree with the resposes above about your vet. (This may have already been mentioned - I skipped pretty quickly through the responses) but you may also want to check with some trainers around your area as well.

I boarded Kyra and Missy Taylor one time. Never had any issues, but I just can't bare to do it again. It worries me too much to not know what's going on. Whenever I go on vacation, I always have one of my friends or family memebers stay at my house. That way I know they are being taken care of how I would want them to, and the attention is always on them.

Wow, people actually keep their dogs in a boarding kennel 2 to 5 weeks? I just couldn't imagine!

"The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to his level of sagacity, but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his."

Maxpup- Have you thought about hiring pet sitters instead? At first I wouldn't board my Max because he came from a shelter where he had been abandoned and I thought it would upset him too much to ever go back in a pen like that. Now that I have three cats too, it just makes more sense all around to have pet sitters that come to my home instead. I pay by the 30 minute visit and it depends on which animals they are watching. If I am just away for one long day, they only need to take Max out and it's slightly less money per visit than when they have to scoop litter and brush the cats too. But the sitting service I chose has a great reputation in my area, they have been in business a while and the employees are all bonded. They keep my keys on file and have a record on each pet so they know what to do. If there was a situation where a vet was needed, they would take them to my own vet and I have signed papers for exactly what is expected of them. They also alternate lights and bring in papers or mail so that the house does not look empty.

SORRY- Just read the part about how you don't want him alone with just 2 visits a day. So the petsitter idea won't work for you.

I may have a solution...We went away for the weekend and had a friend's daughter stay at our house...We payed her very well, and Max was sooo good. She said she had such a great relaxing time and would love to do it again. I am hoping we can arrange something so she will stay the entire week we are gone....I really hope...

"Wow, people actually keep their dogs in a boarding kennel 2 to 5 weeks? I just couldn't imagine!"

Nor can I.. One dog is on week 4/5 and he's hit his breaking point. I try to include my dogs on trips. I've taken one for one week I couldn't take them. but month long ones.. more than I could leave my guys for.